Yorke formed Radiohead with schoolmates at Abingdon School in Oxfordshire. Their 1992 debut single, "Creep", made Yorke a celebrity, and Radiohead went on to achieve critical acclaim and sales of over 30 million albums. Yorke's early influences included alternative rock acts such as Pixies and R.E.M. With Radiohead's fourth album, Kid A, Yorke moved into electronic music, influenced by Warp acts such as Aphex Twin. With the artist Stanley Donwood, Yorke creates artwork for Radiohead albums and his other projects. He often incorporates "erratic" dancing into his performances.
Yorke's solo work comprises mainly electronic music. His debut solo album, The Eraser, was released in 2006. To perform it live, in 2009, he formed a new band, Atoms for Peace, with musicians including the Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea and the Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich. They released an album, [album artist=Atoms for Peace Amok[/album], in 2013. Yorke's second solo album, Tomorrow's Modern Boxes, was released in 2014, followed by Anima in 2019. In 2021, Yorke debuted a new band, the Smile, with the Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and the jazz drummer Tom Skinner. Yorke has collaborated with artists including PJ Harvey, Björk, Flying Lotus and Modeselektor, and has composed for film and theatre. His first feature film soundtrack, Suspiria, was released in October 2018.
Yorke is an activist on behalf of human rights, animal rights, environmental and anti-war causes, and his lyrics incorporate political themes. He has been critical of the music industry, particularly of major labels and streaming services such as Spotify. With Radiohead and his solo work, he has employed alternative release platforms such as pay-what-you-want and BitTorrent. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a member of Radiohead in 2019.
A Rat's Nest
Thom Yorke Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I cannot help you.
Caught by own worm.
Caught in a rat's nest.
Eat own young.
Chew through wires
Sewn up in stitches, stitches.
Deny all knowledge.
Subsection b.
The committee is content. content.
To live in a rat's nest.
Rat's nest
a rats nest
Caught in own mess
Setting the traps
Nest full of rats
vermin
Eat anything
Flailing
Chew through wires
sit at high table
Eat wild boar
secret handshake
Sleeves rolled
Six of the best
Crack whip
Trousers down
mad old men
Run this town
Thom Yorke's song "A Rat's Nest" is a lyrically dense piece that describes a bleak, dystopian society where people are caught up in their own mess. The clicking of a phone in the opening line implies a sense of surveillance, with no escape from the world of technology. The lyrics delve into the metaphor of a rat’s nest, an intrinsic and hostile environment of chaos, confusion and hunger. The idea of "eating their own young" suggests a society that is self-destructive in nature, where the powerful (who "sit at the high table and eat wild boar") consume the weak, and the weak will do anything to survive (including "chewing through wires"). The mention of "six of the best" and "trousers down" alludes to the notion of institutionalized power and hierarchy, where the "mad old men" run the town, and notoriety and control are maintained through secrecy and fear.
The lyrics themselves are purposefully fragmented and cryptic, with jarring imagery provoking feelings of discomfort, powerlessness, and paranoia. The repeated mention of "stitches, stitches," perhaps conveys a sense of rigidity and a sense of being trapped or held together by force.
Line by Line Meaning
Clicks on the phone.
Making a phone call or receiving a message.
I cannot help you.
Expressing the inability to provide assistance or support.
Caught by own worm.
Being trapped by one's own wrongdoings or foolish actions.
Caught in a rat's nest.
Being entangled in a complicated or messy situation that is difficult to escape from.
Eat own young.
Metaphorically consuming or destroying one's own creations or offspring.
Chew through wires
Destroying or damaging electronic equipment or other devices by gnawing on them.
Sewn up in stitches, stitches.
Being physically or emotionally wounded and left to deal with the consequences.
Deny all knowledge.
Refusing to acknowledge or take responsibility for something.
Paragraph 5.
Indicating a specific section of a document or text.
Subsection b.
Referring to a subsection of a larger category or topic.
The committee is content. content.
A group of individuals are satisfied or happy with a decision, outcome or situation.
To live in a rat's nest.
Existing or operating within a chaotic or disorganized environment, often caused by poor management or decision-making.
Rat's nest
A messy or disorganized place or situation.
vermin
Referring to pests, rodents or other unwanted animals that cause damage or destruction.
Eat anything
Having the ability or willingness to ingest or consume anything that is available, regardless of its quality or nutritional value.
Flailing
Reacting in a desperate or ineffective way to a particular situation.
sit at high table
Having a position of power or authority within an organization or institution.
Eat wild boar
Enjoying a luxurious or extravagant lifestyle.
secret handshake
A discreet or exclusive greeting or code of conduct that is shared among a particular group of individuals.
Sleeves rolled
Preparing for a difficult or challenging task that requires physical effort or manual labor.
Six of the best
Receiving a harsh or cruel punishment or reprimand.
Crack whip
Exerting control or authority over others in a strict or domineering way.
Trousers down
Being embarrassed or exposed in a humiliating way.
mad old men
Referring to individuals who are eccentric, unreasonable or irrational due to their age or position of power.
Run this town
Having control or significant influence within a particular community or organization.
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Thomas Edward Yorke
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind